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Chilean engineer develops early cancer detection system

Xinhua, May 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chilean engineer Alejandro Tocigl has developed an early cancer detection system based on a simple blood test,local daily La Tercera reported Tuesday.

The technology is based on a diagnostic test to detect microRNA, small molecules of genetic material which function as a biomarker for various types of pathologies.

"We are now focusing on the development of this tool for stomach cancer. However, the idea is that in the future, this technology could be applied to other types of cancer and different conditions," Tocigl said at a press conference in Santiago.

Stomach cancer has the highest death rate in Chilean cancer sufferers.

"Early detection and timely treatment increases survival chances over five years to around 90 percent," said the engineer.

Tocigl's company, Miroculus, created the system which mixes a patient's microRNA molecules with specialized chemical compounds. The system then analyzes the molecules and runs a diagnosis to identify correlations with specific conditions.

According to the Image of Chile Foundation, which is Chile's international promotion agency, this test will hopefully be put to broad use in 2018 and will be cheap and accessible. Endi